Two Cleveland students will go on to represent the school at Verselandia’s final performance in the Portland-wide poetry-slam competition after finishing first and second at the school level.
Senior Madison Easlon, the first place winner, will receive a $100 prize, while sophomores Eliza Raymond and Owl Matthews will receive $75 and $50 for their respective second and third place spots.
“The poems I used for this were both about a tragic loss I experienced last year, I didn’t really win for me, I won for the person I lost,” emphasized Easlon.
This follows broader tendencies in Easlon’s poetry. “Most of my poems are about experiences I’ve had, good or bad…I would describe most of my poetry as a melancholy ode to grief,” said Easlon.
Easlon’s win makes way for a second chance to compete for Cleveland at the city-wide event. “I competed at Verselandia last year and got first in the Cleveland round, then competed at the city wide event, it was super awesome!” remarked Easlon.
Easlon drew on this previous experience from Verselandia, as well as experience in theater, to achieve this impressive feat.
“I prepared for Verselandia in the same way I do for monologue work in theater, a lot of talking to walls, performing the poems with different inflictions, emotions and even accents,” explained Easlon.
Easlon and the other contestants secured their positions on April 11 after heart-felt performances of 16 poems from all eight contestants. They were supported by a crowd of students, staff, and parents. Verselandia took place in the theater room—dubbed the “Black Box Theatre”—and was presented by English teacher Eric Levine.
According to Librarian Bryan Smith, the coordinator of the event at Cleveland since 2012, the event went “really well.”
“Principal Wadkins was there, and she commented on how very nice it was,” said Smith.
Special Events Coordinator Jan Watt, former Cleveland book clerk Karen Dean, and theater teacher Michael Payne served as the judges for the contest. Each participant presented a poem in both rounds, which were separated by a 10-minute intermission where spectators enjoyed snacks.